# Zombies wake up to delete zombies, which wakes them. Huh? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 13, 2021, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982 "2021-12-13T13:09:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/22 "2021-12-13T19:11:02Z")
Oh, that’s just {\color{purple} {grape}}. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/23 "2021-12-13T19:13:45Z")
Dammit. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/24 "2021-12-13T19:17:48Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Are any of those users’ posts still visible? The deleting posters in the threads that I referenced both have other existing posts that are still visible. They also seem to have been informative posters, so I’m not sure why the sudden deletions. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/25 "2021-12-13T19:19:45Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Dammit. You just couldn’t leave it be, could you? Now look what you’ve started. So why was **typhoon** only deleting one post a day? That wasn’t a limit, right? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/26 "2021-12-13T20:35:47Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > That wasn’t a limit, right? That was the limit set in the software. Looks like he was trying to remove his entire posting history. Why? I have no idea. Ironically, if he had not done anything, I seriously doubt that anyone would have ever bothered to look at any of his old posts. Now, by attempting to hide them, he has brought them to everyone’s attention. He Streisanded himself. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/27 "2021-12-13T21:17:31Z")
2 by the one user and 82 by the typhoon. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/28 "2021-12-13T21:20:58Z")
These are the first signs of the Langoliers, I tell you! ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/29 "2021-12-13T22:53:23Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > That was the limit set in the software. > > Looks like he was trying to remove his entire posting history. Why? I have no idea. > > Ironically, if he had not done anything, I seriously doubt that anyone would have ever bothered to look at any of his old posts. Now, by attempting to hide them, he has brought them to everyone’s attention. He Streisanded himself. Like they say, people is weird. Was he deleting them in order? Sure shows he was committed to a long term plan. Maybe he rejoined under another name three months ago and was trying to delete old posts that may be recalled by something he says now. Unlikely after all this time but I can’t really think of another reason. Okay, he only has 517 posts, who will volunteer to read them to find the horrible secret he’s been hiding lo these many years? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/30 "2021-12-13T23:00:22Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > Okay, he only has 517 posts, who will volunteer to read them to find the horrible secret he’s been hiding lo these many years? - That’s he’s only a mild breeze? ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/31 "2021-12-13T23:11:31Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > That’s he’s only a mild breeze? That joke’s bad enough that your punishment will be to read all 517 posts and solve the mystery. The mods told me to pass that on to you. Honest. 🤞 ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/32 "2021-12-13T23:37:03Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > Okay, he only has 517 posts, who will volunteer to read them to find the horrible secret he’s been hiding lo these many years? I skimmed through them earlier today, and it was like opening a time capsule. Computer terms and processes I haven’t thought of in years popped up over and again. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/33 "2021-12-13T23:58:58Z")
We’ve encountered people before who requested that all their posts be deleted when the quit the forum. They’ve always been told that we don’t do that. I could see someone coming back, noticing they could delete their posts, and thinking they could finally do it themselves. As for the situation, I could have sworn that, after I mentioned the issue to @codinghorror, an update resulted in us not being able to delete a post after 15 minutes, same as with editing. I had presumed this had been fixed behind the scenes—even if only with an option to also set a time limit for deletions. Oh, and the edit time does seem to be 15 minutes now, not 10 or 5. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2021, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/34 "2021-12-14T00:08:21Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Oh, and the edit time does seem to be 15 minutes now, not 10 or 5. Confirming this, as I was able to edit a typo I had made in a 14-minute-old post earlier today. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2021, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/35 "2021-12-14T12:38:43Z")
Maybe typhoon is now in witness protection and is trying to delete the one tie to his old identity. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2021, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/36 "2021-12-14T15:26:02Z")
By frequenting a site of former association and systematically undertaking unusual and high-profile activities? IRL, that’d be like going back to the old neighborhood, standing on the busiest street corner, and repeatedly yelling at the top of your lungs “ **I’M NOT FAT TOMMY ANYMORE!** ” ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2021, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/37 "2021-12-14T20:28:20Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Computer terms and processes I haven’t thought of in years popped up over and again. I looked at a few too. _Everyone_ using IE for a browser, HiJackThis! for problem solving. Seems like another life. > [@kayaker](#): > > Maybe typhoon is now in witness protection and is trying to delete the one tie to his old identity. And hunting down and killing any threats. > [@gnoitall](#): > > IRL, that’d be like going back to the old neighborhood, standing on the busiest street corner, and repeatedly yelling at the top of your lungs “ **I’M NOT FAT TOMMY ANYMORE!** ” Well, if he was a smart criminal, he wouldn’t have been caught and flipped on his bosses. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/38 "2021-12-15T01:44:50Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > Well, if he was a smart criminal, he wouldn’t have been caught and flipped on his bosses. He gets to live the rest of his life like a schnook. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/39 "2021-12-17T20:46:13Z")
> [@DMC](#): > > Oh, that’s just {\color{purple} {grape}} grape{\color{purple} {grape}} . I would like the color change function, but that’s a heck of line of code to have to type each time. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/40 "2021-12-18T07:04:56Z")
No kidding! I had a good joke to play off that, but once I looked at the code I just decided to skip it. Probably would have taken me five tries to get it right. ETA: Is that part of the mathjax thing? ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982/41 "2021-12-18T07:26:50Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > ETA: Is that part of the mathjax thing? Yes, it lets you get a little crazy if you really want. \bbox[#F19,border:8px double yellow,30px]{\bbox[yellow,14px]{\color{black}{Boo!}}} [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-wake-up-to-delete-zombies-which-wakes-them-huh/955982.md?page=3)